Alexander Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 What are the main differences between rosewood and ebony as fretboard materials? For example what difference do you find regarding tone, playability etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyldbil Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 Sound: To my experience, ebony makes a "brighter, snappier" sound. Rosewood is a bit warmer and mellower. Playability: This is also to my experience: (ymmv) Ebony, being a harder wood, makes my fingertips sore! I have owned three ebony-boarded guitars through the years and hated playing them for that exact reason. I would TRY to play them for awhile and sold them off. For this reason, I am a dyed-in-the-wool rosewood man. Rosewood feels comfortable under my fingers Disclaimer: This is a very subjective topic and very much subject to individual experience and opinion. I just expressed mine. Again, your mileage may vary. I know lots of folks who prefer ebony boards and good on 'em. Keeps PRS able to upcharge their already overpriced gear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Carl Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 I prefer ebony for the most part, especially on all-mahogany guitars. I feel it gives 'em a bit more 'edge' or attack. I also prefer the looks & the feel of ebony. To me, ebony feels slicker & faster than rosewood. That being said, I really dig RW, too; just prefer ebony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanglewood15dlx Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 for me the sound doesent mater so much between ebony and rosewood, but rosewood has a warmer tone and the ebony is a bit like maple, almost the same tone! i prefer rosewood for a fingerboard, because of that soft feel (the grains are more present) on the rosewood. ebony is more hatder i wouldnt say faster because all the "fast metal guitars" has rosewood fingerboards (ibanez, jackson, esp) almost all of their guitars has rosewood fingerboards! so for me ebony is NOT faster, it just has a very different feel form rosewood...but taste is very important, try them both for a some time, then you will see the differences and the ones that you like... -cheers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 I like ebony in terms of looks and feel, it feels like playing on glass, very smooth, not all shredder guitars have rosewood boards, and the reason they don't use ebony it's because that most shredder guitars are Ibanez. the Jackson Solist sl1 and sl 2 both come an ebony fretboard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Carl Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 A bud's '84 LP Custom's ebony board was so 'worn in' & slick, it was an effort to play slowly on that guitar. I've played & owned tons of guitars & that '84 was the slickest, fastest guitar I ever layed hands on. Shoulda bought it off him when he got rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted December 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 Here's another thing (thanks guys for your help): The guitar's going to have a recessed OFR, should I opt for rosewood to try and "warm up" the tone of the axe, as I've heard a Floyd can make a guitar sound brittle sometimes. (The body wood is going to be basswood, btw). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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